i'm having a small come home dinner tomorrow (my best friend coming home after 3 years studyig aboard)..i tought of making it special and a bottle of wine would be great. but i think it would be better without alcohol. what is the best substitute for it? (non-alcoholic)
2007-09-05 07:12:45 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Food & Drink ➔ Non-Alcoholic Drinks
H2o
2007-09-09 04:13:21 · answer #1 · answered by __A_YAHOO_USER__ 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I assume that you're looking for something which you could pair with the food, as you would with wine. For that, I'd suggest you buy a regular bottle of wine, and remove the alcohol from it by gently simmering it. Alcohol boils at a lower temperature than water, so it's easy to do and doesn't significantly alter the flavor of the wine--although wine snobs will tell you differently. Anyway, this lets you pair your food with wine the way you would normally, without having to worry about the alcohol.
As far as the grocery store sparkling grape juices and such, I would avoid these. A lot of them are pretty foul-tasting to begin with, but they all have a significant amount of sugar in them (because they're not fermented), and such a sweet drink will change the way that your food tastes, much in the way that orange juice tastes bad after you've brushed your teeth. Stick with wine, and if you don't want the alcohol, just remove it.
2007-09-05 14:43:42 · answer #2 · answered by Dave B. 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I noticed at Trader Joe's that there are some alcohol free wines. They're on a bottom shelf and clearlhy identified as such, on white signs. You might also consider Crystal Lite's grapefruit flavor drink mix. put some in a pitcher, and add water, then stir until it's all mixed up. I some times make it with grapefruit juice. Very good! One more option is ruby red grapefruit juice, from Trader Joe's. The refrigerated kind.
2007-09-05 14:55:37 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Coffee.
There are companies that bottle grape juice in wine bottles, but it's not particularly special. On the other hand, you could get some specialty coffee, perhaps hazelnut, that would really set off the occasion.
2007-09-05 14:17:20 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Virgin daiquiris or margaritas
Just make drinks using the non-alcoholic mixer and ice in a blender. There are a variety of flavors and some delicious mixes on the market.
or Just serve chilled sparkling water and add a little Vanilla syrup or Lemon/Lime for a twist.
2007-09-05 14:18:11 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Sweet iced tea, cran-raspberry juice, lemon aide? If you want the effect of wine without the alcohol, how about sparkling grape juice or cidar?
2007-09-05 14:19:00 · answer #6 · answered by ~ Floridian`` 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Sparkling water with lemon and ginger
2007-09-05 15:38:26 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
A bottle of sparkling apple cider.
2007-09-05 14:26:31 · answer #8 · answered by Bob 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Have a nice punch, served from a pitcher w/ ice and fresh fruit floating in it, and use pretty stemmed glasses!
Coffee bar w/ flavors and syrups and whipped cream (buy a can)
Chocolate fondue for dessert! Melt some choc. chips w/ whipping cream and dip fruits and cookies into it!
2007-09-05 14:22:57 · answer #9 · answered by Sugar Pie 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
most supermarkets sell sparkling grape juice (which is similar to champagne) or even non-alcoholic wines
2007-09-05 14:19:03 · answer #10 · answered by toastybun 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋